METTLESOME Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

mettlesome

adjective

ˈme-tᵊl-səm

Definition of mettlesome

as in energetic

having much high-spirited energy and movement the mettlesome opening dance number got the audience all jazzed up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fiery

marked by a lively display of strong feeling a mettlesome debate on the teaching of evolution in the schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mettlesome He may have been provoked into battle by the ruler of Cebu, who was using Magellan’s troops to rid himself of a mettlesome chieftain known to raid the trade ships that navigated the waters in and around the islands. — Tim Carman, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mettlesome

Adjective

San Jose recorded 1 million total downtown visits during the six-week FIFA World Cup, officials announced Friday — a final count over 2 ½ times initial projections — driven by energetic watch parties and strong fan culture in the city.

— Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 25 July 2026
These kinds of bursts travel faster than the energetic particles from a solar storm, and precede their arrival when shot towards Earth.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of energetic

Adjective

Admired for their striking beauty, the fiery blossoms of the peacock flower have long captured the attention of people across the Atlantic world.

— Kari Traylor, JSTOR Daily, 29 July 2026
The testimony followed years of fiery disputes between Paul and Fauci — both medical doctors — over the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the origins of the virus that caused it.

— Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 July 2026

Definition of fiery

Adjective

In Thursday’s announcement, Canal+ highlighted that the new deal would also see a strengthening of its support for new filmmakers and new styles of filmmaking; debut films and emerging talent; diversity film and animated films.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 July 2026
Although animated sequels have majorly rebounded at the box office, original fare remains challenged.

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 July 2026

Definition of animated

Adjective

Photo of the Week Top of the World – Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in a bad-spirited FIFA World Cup Final to be crowned champions for the second time in their history.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 July 2026
But starting carries some cache, and there will be a spirited competition between Blount (who’s superior to Lightfoot as a run defender) and Lightfoot (a highly skilled pass rusher who’s better as a run defender than his light frame might suggest).

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026

Definition of spirited

Adjective

Players have long complained about less-lively balls that force them to swing harder to hit them through the court.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 July 2026
The pilot sets up interesting tensions between Duke and surrogate father Kingsley and a livelier adversarial role for Pinnock, but Kingsley is gone for the majority of the six episodes (out of eight) sent to critics and Pinnock’s absence is felt.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026

Definition of lively

Adjective

As for her birth story, Lockwood says her smart and spunky 5-year-old daughter knows it all.

— Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Zann eventually got a call from casting director Meredith Layne and a screenplay with lines that were instantly familiar from her time voicing Rogue, the spunky heroine whose touch can be deadly, in the ‘90s.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Definition of spunky

Adjective

To imagine the natural world not as a passive resource but as an animate collaborator would be to reorder more than aesthetic categories, demanding another relation to our environment.

— Tara Anne Dalbow, ARTnews.com, 29 May 2026
Zugunruhe is the itinerant desire of any animate being to keep moving and growing.

— Big Think, Big Think, 6 May 2026

Definition of animate

Adjective

Competing in his home country of Canada against top heel champion MJF with a passionate crowd behind him felt like the perfect setting.

— Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Later, their tentative friendship turns into something more passionate — to the dismay of eavesdropping Asla, who realizes she is not the party Helge’s charm was aimed at.

— Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 2026

Definition of passionate

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mettle

mettlesome

mew

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“Mettlesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mettlesome. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of mettlesome

adjective

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